WAVERLY, Iowa – Mark Mueller, Iowa Corn Growers Association vice president and a Waverly farmer, recently attended the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Buyers and Sellers Conference in Abidjan, West Africa, to learn about the country’s biotechnology practices.

Along with Mueller, roughly 90 representatives, consultants and presenters from across Arabic and sub-Saharan Africa attended the conference, representing companies involved in the trade or the livestock feeding industry.

He shared about the use of biotechnology within the U.S. and personal benefits he has seen within his own farming operation.

“The use of biotechnology has allowed U.S. corn farmers to continually increase our yields, while decreasing our farm inputs,” he said. “Attending the USGC Buyers and Sellers Conference was an opportunity to share about U.S. practices and strengthen relationships that promote future trade between the U.S. and Africa. These missions are incredibly important because as we continue to grow more corn, we need to continue developing new trade channels and relationships.”

During the conference, he represented U.S. corn farmers in meetings with various African buyers. While in the country, he, along with other U.S. producers and USGC staff, also visited poultry and aquaculture farms to see local integration of feed grains, and to help gain perspective as they continually enhance their marketing strategies.

He told Farm World, “There are many challenges faced by African farmers that biotechnology could improve upon. The tropical climate brings with it an abundance of crop-destroying insects and diseases that genetically enhanced crops could withstand. Tropical soils tend to be sterile and don’t hold water. Plant breeders have developed varieties that use nutrients and water more efficiently. Fewer resource inputs are used, yet yields are increased.

“Decades ago, before planting, farmers plowed the ground black because there was no other way to kill weeds,” said Mueller, who holds Bachelor of Science degrees in agribusiness and agronomy from Iowa State University, and produces no-till corn, soybeans, alfalfa, specialty beans, forage rye and corn for silage. “After the crop emerged, the farmer cultivated between the rows. Tillage of any type, then or now, caused soil erosion, made worse by heavy rains.

“As a result, I have half the topsoil now that my great-grandfather started with,” said the fourth-generation Iowa farmer. “Biotechnology has allowed me to be a better steward of the land and farm in a more sustainable manner.

“I can apply fewer, safer herbicides that kill the weeds, but leave the crop,” he added. “I don’t need to till the soil. It doesn’t wash away in the ever-more-frequent downpours we have, and the soil retains more nutrients. Less soil runoff means cleaner water for everyone downstream, from my farm to the Gulf of Mexico.”

He said, “The biotechnology features I’ve utilized most are corn that is impervious (doesn’t allow fluid to pass through) to rootworms, corn borers and other insects, and corn and soybeans that tolerate specific herbicides. I’ve been able to adopt no-till farming, which saves me at least a couple of trips across the field, and the fuel, labor and time that goes with that. I’ve also used corn varieties that can use less water.”

He added, “Iowa corn farmers understand the importance of strong trade relationships and dedicate countless hours fostering new and existing relationships each year.

“The Iowa Corn Promotion Board focuses on exporting value-added products such as corn-fed red meat, ethanol, DDGS (Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles) and corn gluten feed, as well as whole kernel corn to best serve our international customers by maintaining and creating new trade markets.”